Game and method of playing the same and structures for a game board and other utilizations

ABSTRACT

A game having a three-dimensional game board and two or more sets of tokens. The game board has at least three vertically spaced-apart platforms each of which has thereon markings dividing it into nine or more areas laid out in a square patterns. The tokens of each set are distinguishable from the tokens of each of the others sets, and the tokens of each is provided with serial markings. The game is played by placing sequentially marked tokens into empty spaces in a game board platform and/or matrix game board to achieve an in-line arrangement of at least three of the tokens.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/344,821 filed Oct. 18,2010, and Provisional Application No. 61/457,465 filed Apr. 4, 2011, under the provisional of 35 U.S.C. 119.

SPECIFICATION

The present invention relates to a game which comprises a three-dimensional “table-top” game board having at least three vertically spaced-apart upper, middle and lower platforms each of which has thereon markings dividing it into at least nine areas laid out in at least a three-by-three pattern, and two or more sets of tokens which, in the course of the game, are placed on the game board. The tokens of each set are distinguishable from the tokens of the other set or sets, and the tokens of each set are provided with serial markings.

The present invention also relates to a more portable version of the game played on a three-dimensional “travel” board that allows access to cells of a 3×3×3 (or larger) matrix made of clear or opaque material. The game pieces for the “travel” version are placed into or attached to the cells with temporary adhesive, magnets, Velcro, or by fitting a compressible foam piece into the cell and allowing it to expand to hold its position or by other means. In contrast to the “table top” version which may only be rotated on a flat surface during play, the “travel” version of the game may be picked up, rotated in any axis to view all sides, and passed hand to hand among players to facilitate game play.

The present invention also relates to a structure incorporating platforms and pillars (table-top version).

The present invention also relates to a structure incorporating access to cells in a 3×3×3 or larger matrix (travel version).

The present invention also relates electronic and optical holographic versions of the game.

The present invention also relates to method of playing the game making use of game boards as described above.

The invention is described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a game board apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of a part of the game board apparatus shown in FIG. 1 incorporating an additional feature.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the game board.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the game board.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the game board showing the left side.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the front of the game board.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the game board showing the right side.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view showing the rear of the game board.

FIG. 8 shows one side of a foldable strip which may be folded to form the game board shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 shows the other side of the foldable strip of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 are perspective views of a set of four tokens.

FIG. 11 are perspective views of another set of four tokens.

FIG. 11 a is a plan view of a master sheet from which two sets of token may be cut.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a game board apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows one side of a foldable strip which may be folded to form the game board shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 shows the other side of the foldable strip of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the game board apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a platform forming part of the game board apparatus shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of an unfolded pillar forming part of the game board apparatus shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary view of the platform shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of a pillar shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 a is a diagrammatic view of a slot in a platform as shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 20 b shows the configuration of an opening in the platform of FIG. 16 which allows the introduction of a pillar.

FIGS. 20 c, 20 d and 20 e show alternative configurations of the opening in the platform of FIG. 16.

FIG. 21 a is a perspective view of an embodiment of a “travel” version of the game board apparatus according to the present invention with cube shaped compressible foam game pieces in the foreground.

FIG. 21 b is the perspective view of the same “travel” version of the game board with some of the cube shaped compressible foam game pieces in the foreground and some placed in cells of the board matrix.

FIG. 22 is a side view of an electronic version of the game where holographic images of the board and game pieces are projected in three dimensions.

FIG. 23 is a top view thereof.

FIG. 24 is a bottom view thereof.

FIG. 25 is a three-dimensional perspective view thereof.

FIG. 26 is a three-dimensional perspective view thereof showing the game board.

FIG. 27 is a three-dimensional perspective view thereof showing the game board with pieces thereon.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of one of the motion sensor arrays showing a method by which individual cells are distinguished from each other.

FIG. 29 shows the six vertical planes each of which contains nine game cells.

FIG. 30 is a side sectional view of an optical device which produces a holographic image and incorporates a curved mirror.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, the three-dimensional game board shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 incorporates three preferably square shaped playing surfaces arranged vertically one above the other. Each playing surface is divided into nine and preferably square shaped areas as shown in the drawings. The game board may be foldable and be constituted by a foldable strip 10 the two sides of which are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively. The strip is made of a foldable material the two sides of which are printed prior to assembly. The strip 10 has a number of sections, forming, respectively, the middle platform 11, the bottom 12, the right side 13, the top 14, the left side 15 and the bottom 16 as depicted in FIG. 8, and the bottom 17 as depicted in FIG. 9. The strip 10, when folded, assumes the configuration of the game board as depicted in FIG. 1.

In addition, one or more tabs may be provided which keep the game board upright. These tabs, one which is shown in FIG. 1 a, may be provided under the middle level of the game board.

Alternatively, the game board may be in the form of a non-collapsible structure made, for example, of plastic, metal, wood and/or other material or a combination thereof.

Each of the two players is provided with four tokens, with the tokens of each set being distinguishable from the tokens of the other set. Each set of tokens is provided with serial marking such as the numbers or letters, i.e., the tokens of each set may be numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, or by the letters A, B, C and D, respectively. The tokens of one of the players are distinctly different from those of the other player so as to be distinguishable from each other. For example, one player's tokens may be round as shown in FIG. 10 while those of the other player are square as shown in FIG. 11. For purposes of illustrative examples, the tokens of FIG. 10 are shown as being provided with numbers and those of FIG. 11 are shown as being provided with letters. Alternatively, each player's tokens may be of a color different from the tokens of the other player, and/or the tokens of one player may have other distinguishing features which differ from the tokens of the other player, such as by being representative of different spaceships of different configurations or any other distinguishing indicia having appropriate different configurations, it being understood that any of the foregoing alternatives may be combined with any or all of the others.

A specific embodiment of tokens simulating spaceships is shown in FIG. 11 a. Here the tokens may be provided by cutting the same from a master sheet, the tokens for one player being white and carrying odd numbers 1, 3, 5 and 7, respectively, and the tokens for the other player being black and carrying even numbers, 2, 4, 6 and 8, respectively. Each token may be cut out and be folded in half along the center line with the numbers being visible on the outside, after which the two end panels are folded outwardly 90 degrees to provide a flat surface to rest on the game board.

The game is played as follows:

The players take turns, alternately placing a token onto one of the 27 spaces on the three platforms. The tokens must be used in sequence, i.e., in numerical order 1, 2, 3, 4, or, if alphabetic marking used, in the sequence A, B, C, D, and they must be placed on an empty space. Once all four of a players' token are on the board, the next move by the player requires moving the first token, 1 or A, to a new empty space. The player's next move must be token 2 or B, then 3 or C, and then 4 or D, and thereafter again begin with 1 or A, and so on. The goal of the game is for a player to place three tokens in a direct line, be it a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line so as to achieve a “three-in-a-row” effect. The first player to achieve this goal wins the game.

A variant of the game is played as described above but prohibits the use of the center square of the middle platform, shown in black in FIG. 12. The game board of FIG. 12, whose top, bottom, left side, front, right side and back are the same as shown in FIGS. 2-7, respectively, may be constructed of a foldable strip of material whose two sides are shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Here, too, the two sides of the strip are printed prior to assembly.

The game board of FIG. 12, too, may be in the form of a non-collapsible structure made, for example, of plastic, metal, wood and/or other material or a combination thereof.

Additional versions of the game may be played with more than two players, each of whom has the same number of sequentially numbered token. Players rotate taking turns placing only one token at a time, in sequential order. FIGS. 21 a and 21 b is an example of three players. The 3×3×3 board with each player having 4 tokens can accommodate 2, 3, 4, or 5 players.

Additional versions of the game may be played with more players if boards larger than 3×3×3 and more numerous tokens per player are used. This, however, would require a player to obtain more than three in a row to win the game.

Distinct to this invention is the fact that each player uses a limited number of tokens and that these token must be repositioned during the game, in sequential order, to achieve the winning goal.

Alternatively, the game board may, as shown in FIG. 15, be constructed of individual platforms 18 connected to each other by pillars 19 each of which may be made of cardboard, plastic, wood or other suitable material. One such platforms is shown in FIG. 16 and the same is provided with slits 18 a to allow a pillar 19, one of which is shown in unfolded condition in FIG. 17, to be inserted through the slit. FIG. 18 is a fragmentary view of a platform 18 showing the schematics of the slit, with five points thereon being shown at A, B, C, D and E, respectively. The slit itself follows the lines A-B-D-E so that there is formed a trapezoidal flap 18 b which may be folded along the line A-E, thus providing a trapezoidal opening having the configuration bounded by the lines along lines A-B-D-E-A-through which a folded pillar 19 may be inserted.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of a pillar 19 showing its center line 19 a and one central slit 19 b and two lateral slits 19 c, the central slit extending between points G and H and the lateral slits extending outward from each of points F and I to the edge of the pillar. The slit A-E in platform 18 us the same length as the width of the folded pillar 19, thus allowing the pillar to be inserted into the opening that is formed when the flap 18 b is folded as described above. After the side of the pillar 19 incorporating points F and G is placed along the lines A-E of the platform 18, the pillar is slipped to one side so as to allow point A of the platform to enter the two lateral slits 19 c of the pillar. When points F and I on the folder pillar are in contact with point A of the platform, the folder pillar is rotated so that, while F and I remain in contact with A, point H on the pillar contacts point B on platform and the central slit 19 b of the pillar overlaps the line from B to C on platform, after which the pillar is unfolded until the side incorporating points F and G are in contact with line D-E of the platform with F being at E and G being at D. The platform flap 18 b I s then unfolded so as to close the opening in the pillar and maintaining the unfolded position of the pillar 19. With each of the four pillars 19 being so connected to each of the three platforms 18, there is obtained a rigid structure which does require any glue or other reinforcement.

If the pillars are made of other than foldable material, each can made of two elongated parts which are hinged to each other along a line corresponding to line 19 a shown in FIG. 19.

The manner in which the pillars and platforms are connected to each other may be utilized for other purposes whenever such structures elements are to be connected to each other. Moreover, the pillars and platforms need not be vertical and horizontal components, rather, the pillars can be horizontal or occupy any desired orientation with the platform being positioned accordingly.

For purposes of illustration, FIG. 20 a shows the slit 18 a and the FIG. 20 b shows the trapezoidal opening obtained when the slit has the configuration of FIG. 20 a, with FIGS. 20 c, 20 d and 20 e showing alternative configurations of the opening that may be provided, each having a height larger than that of the trapezoidal opening shown in FIG. 20 b, thus facilitating the unfolding and positioning of a pillar after it has been inserted into the opening. This facilitates the unfolding of the pillar if the same is made of a rigid material.

The present invention also includes the provision of a computerized version of the game, thus allowing the game to be played in a virtual setting as well as a method a method of playing the above-described board game, namely, a method wherein sequentially marked tokens are placed onto empty spaces of the above-described game board to achieve an in-line arrangement of at least three of the tokens.

An electronic version of the game comprises a device used to create a holograph image of the game and detects movements by the players. The holographic images of the board and game pieces are projected in three dimensions (3D) by the device shown in FIGS. 22-29, with FIG. 22 being a side view of the device, FIG. 23 a top view, FIG. 24 a bottom view, FIG. 25 a perspective 3D view, FIG. 26 a perspective 3D of the game board and FIG. 27 a 3D perspective view showing the game board with pieces thereon. In FIG. 28, the detection of the specific game piece spot (a small sphere in a larger cube-shaped cell) requires data from two or more perpendicular motion detector motion sensor arrays, and FIG. 29 shows that motion sensor array data from at least two perpendicular planes, namely, one from the top row and one from the bottom row, is required to determine a specific game piece location within one cell.

FIG. 30 shows a device by which a holographic image is created optically using a clear plastic model of the game board enclosed within a curved mirror M. The game board is projected onto the model and the image of both the game board and the game pieces is viewed above the box. The motion sensors detect movement in the space where the image is projected above the mirror box, not withint the mirror box.

The invention is capable of various modifications, all or which are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A game comprising a three-dimensional game board and two or more sets of tokens, said game board having at least three vertically spaced-apart platforms each of which has thereon markings dividing it into at least areas laid out in a square pattern, the tokens of each set being distinguishable from the tokens of the other set, and the tokens of each set being provided with serial marking.
 2. A game as defined in claim 1 wherein the game board is foldable and comprises a foldable strip that, when it is unfolded, assumes the configuration of the game board.
 3. A game as defined in claim 1 wherein the game board is a permanent structure made of plastic, wood, metal and/or other material or a combination thereof and/or allows access to cells of a 3×3×3 (or larger) matrix of cells with the game pieces or tokens placed into or attached to the cells with temporary adhesive, magnets, Velcro, or by fitting a compressible foam piece into the cell and allowing it to expand to hold its position or by other means.
 4. A game as defined in claim 1 wherein the three-by-three pattern of the middle platform has a central area which is marked differently from all the other areas of the three platforms with either a permanent marking or with a removable marking.
 5. A game as defined in claim 1 wherein the tokens of each set are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively, there being additional numbers for game boards larger than 3×3×3.
 6. A game as defined in claim 1 wherein the tokens of each set are marked A, B, C and D, respectively, there being additional letters for game boards larger than 3×3×3).
 7. A game as defined in claim 1 wherein the token have different geometrical configurations and/or different colors and/or different textures and/or are distinguished by other distinguishing characteristics.
 8. A game as defined in claim 1 wherein the tokens are distinguished by representations of spaceships of different configurations.
 9. A game as defined in claim 1 in computerized configuration, thus allowing the game to be played in a virtual setting.
 10. A game as defined in claim 1 comprising holographic means for displaying the game board and tokens.
 11. A game as defined in claim in claim 10 wherein said holographic means comprise an electronic device.
 12. A game as defined in claim 10 wherein said holographic means comprise an optical device.
 13. A method of playing a board game comprising the steps of placing sequentially marked tokens into empty spaces in a multiplatform game board and/or matrix game board to achieve an in-line arrangement of at least three of the tokens.
 14. A method defined in claim 13 wherein said placing is effected holographically.
 15. A method as defined in claim 14 wherein said holographic placing is effected electronically.
 16. A method as defined in claim 14 wherein said holographic placing is effected optically.
 17. The invention substantially as described and/or illustrated. 